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2003 Annual Trek
June 27-28-29, 2003
Hosted by the Sheridan County Chapter of the WSHS
Trek Planning Committee:
Linda Prill, Chair
The 53rd Annual Trek of the Wyoming State Historical Society, just completed in Sheridan County, highlighted the cattle country of northern Wyoming and the life of John B. Kendrick. The Sheridan County Chapter of the WSHS planned and executed a wonderful trek that began with guided trolley tours of the town of Sheridan. Led by capable guides, like Mona Hansen, the WSHS trekkers learned the history of Sheridan.
You can view the 2003 Annual Trek Photo Album here.
Incorporated in 1884 and having a population of just over 1500 in 1900, Sheridan is graced by its Sheridan Main Street Historic District which was enrolled in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Tour facts included: 1) Burlington and Missouri Railroad came to Sheridan in 1892; 2) Founder of Sheridan was John D. Loucks; 3) Sheridan's population was 12,000 in 1910; 4) Kendrick was a stockholder and the second President of the First National Bank (Sheridan's second bank) and was respondible for building several large brick/stone buildings in downtown Sheridan 1906-1914; and 5) The Mint Bar has been operating since 1907.
Ken Kerns, long time Sheridan County rancher, businessman, and local politician, spoke to the trekkers on June 27th about the "grass culture." The lands of northern Wyoming have been home to many cultures, and the common thread was the grassland that covered much of the country. Grasslands have drawn the Spaniards who first brought horses to the grasslands in the 1500's, the Shoshone Indians of the 1700's, and the first white man who brought cattle into Wyoming in the 1830's. Seth Ward wintered cattle near Chugwater, but it wasn't until 1864 that the first cattle were trailed to Sheridan County along the Bozeman Trail. As the cattle country opened, names of trails and ranchers made history. The Yellow Cattle Trail, Goodnight Trail, and Texas Trail served to move herds across Wyoming and Montana. In 1879 John Kendrick hired on with Snyder-Wulfjen Brothers of Texas and trailed cattle to Wyoming along the Texas Trail. Moreton Frewen's Powder River Cattle Company in the 1880's stretched from the Powder River to the Tongue River. By 1900 John Kendrick developed the OW Ranch, 210,000 acres of deeded and leased land in southern Montana and northern Wyoming.
Ken Kerns family was part of the early grass culture in Wyoming, Theophilus Kerns homesteading in Sheridan County in 1877. Kerns concluded his remarks noting the time of the family ranch has given way to the corporate ranch, which continues to be good stewards of the land.
The daylong trek on June 28th began at the Trail End Historic Site. Staff and volunteers led guided tours through the three-story mansion built by John B. Kendrick between 1908 and 1913. Nancy McClure, site curator, introduced the historic site to the WSHS, and Cynde Georgen, site superintendent, presented a wonderful narrated slide program that detailed the life of John B. Kendrick and his family. At an early age, Kendrick was orphaned and began a cowboy life that led him to Wyoming and Montana where he became one of the most influential figures in Wyoming politics in the early 1900's. Kendrick's history, as well as that of his family and Trail End Historic Site, are presented very nicely at the website of the historic site. Its address is www.trailend.org and the site is very well worth the visit.
In the afternoon of June 28th, the trek traveled 50 miles north of Sheridan to Kendrick's OW Ranch. The Kendricks made the ranch their home from 1891 until 1909, when they moved to Sheridan to afford their children the benefits of public school and John better access to the local business community.
Now owned by a family from Colorado, the ranch house and its outbuildings were available to the trekkers to view and visit. In so doing, the WSHS visitors learned about the frontier ranch existence that the Kendricks called home. Some history of the ranch and the Kendrick's life at the ranch are found on the Trail End Historic Site website, www.trailend.org .
A first at the Wyoming State Historical Society Trek was the the Wyoming Trivia Game, held at Saturday evening's banquet. The game tested willing trek participants in Wyoming history trivia from places and sports to art and music. Five finalist tested late into the evening and Cindy Brown, Cheyenne, reigned as champion of the 1st Wyoming Trivia Game.
Sunday morning gave trekkers an opportunity to visit other historic sites in the area or on their ride back home. Trek participants were able to learn about cowboys and cattle kings and received a once in a lifetime tour of the OW Ranch.
| FRIDAY, June 27 | |
| Noon - 4:30pm | Registration at historic City Hall on Grinnell Plaza in downtown Sheridan |
| 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Trolley tour of Sheridan historic district |
| 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Trolley tour of Sheridan historic district (repeat) |
| 5:00pm - 6:30pm | Registration continues at Holiday Inn. Social hour followed by dinner at Holiday Inn. Ken Kerns speaking on early ranching. Kerns is a lifelong resident of Sheridan County and lives on the family ranch established in the 1800's near Parkman, Wyoming. He is an authority on the history of early ranches and the Connor and Sawyers' expeditions and battles. |
| SATURDAY, June 28 | |
| ???? | Breakfast on your own. |
| 8:30am - 5:00pm | Board buses at the north end of the Holiday Inn parking lot. First stop on the Trek is Trail End Historic Site (guided tour and a slide presentation in the Carriage House Theater behind the mansion) Kendrick Park for lunch. Bus tour into southern Montana to tour Kendrick's OW Ranch, which has been restored to its original condition. An afternoon snack and beverages will be served. We will return to the parking area at the Holiday Inn about 5:00. |
| 6:00pm | Social hour followed by dinner at The Historic Sheridan Inn, 856 Broadway. Entertainment will include a Wyoming history trivia game developed by Trail End superintendent, Cynde Georgen. |
| SUNDAY, June 29 | |
| ???? | Explore on your own before leaving Sheridan area. Information on suggested sites in registration packet. |
Please contact us with your comments, suggestions or inquiries.
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